Southern Wedding Style: Bury the Bourbon

June 24, 2016 by Carl Kerridge

Driving over the border, it’s no wonder why brides love to have a southern wedding. In South Carolina, the license plate says it all,

“Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places.”

Paired with some of the most sentimental and superstitious traditions, it’s no wonder why southern wedding traditions are growing more popular across the nation. What better way to theme a wedding than to have it be about the closeness of friends and family, and just having a good ol’ time.

Originally being floated over the marsh to it’s current resting place, the boys got dressed and ready at Liberty Lodge under Gus’s supervision. Down the road our girls got ready near the “Tiki Hut,” laughing and giggling away. The icing on the cake was seeing the lovely bride don a beautiful flower crown, then bringing out two more to match her little flower girls.

One of my favorite wedding traditions is to bury a bottle of Bourbon. The bride and groom venture out to their wedding ceremony site and bury the bottle a month before they say, “I do.” Superstition has it that doing so will help ward off rain on the wedding day. And THAT, is just what Mel and Nat did.

The past year, we’ve experienced a few rainy weddings and even a hurricane during a wedding. I checked the weather constantly the entire week before, worried we’d get rained out of their outdoor ceremony site – a privately owned location nestled between Hwy 17 and the beach dunes of Litchfield Beach, SC. As fate would have it, the clouds cleared and we had blue skies for this happy couple!

The most popular southern wedding days are framed by a landscape backdrop full of history, bridal portraits, sweet treats, and soul food. We did sunset bridal portraits against the old motel and pine trees, there was a table full of sweet treats and Southern Way Catering definitely whipped up some good olde country cooking. I believe a little more soul was added to the mix as Tru Sol Band sang and gave everyone dancing fever for the couple’s wedding reception.

Now that’s what I call a true southern wedding, full of class and style. Mel and Nat, we are so happy for you and have you in our thoughts. We wish you enough of everything for the wonderful and loving future ahead of you!

Hair and Makeup: Eli Raley

Officiant: Rev. Barry Stopfel

Cake: Pawley’s Island Bakery

Florist: Carolina Charm

Music: Tru Sol Band

Catering: Southern Way Catering

Coordinator: Events on the Half Shell

Fine Art Photojournalism at Pine Lakes

July 17, 2014 by Carl Kerridge

I have had the pleasure of shooting many weddings at Pine Lakes Country Club and it is certainly one of my favorite locations to create stunning fine art portraits and offers many unique angles for photojournalism styled images.

It’s stunning backdrop, full with history and southern charm, was the perfect place for the romantic and intimate wedding of Karen and Brian. And I have to say that their choice of colors, grey and yellow, really accentuated and complimented the buildings decor, especially on such a beautiful sunny day. Their personal attention to detail carried all the way from the vintage lace hair pin fashioned from Karen’s grandmothers wedding dress through to the custom thumb print rings. It was a delight to behold, even better to photograph and a great day to be a part of, thanks again for working with me.

Be sure to scroll all the way to the end to see my choice for “best destination wedding pic of the day.”

My favorite destination wedding pic of the day…this gorgeous 1960 red convertible Cadillac added a stylish end to a classically romantic day at Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach, SC

Engagement photos- water themed session

July 17, 2014 by Carl Kerridge

Recent engagement photo sessions have leaned towards multiple locations and outfit changes so the couple can enjoy several settings and have tons of great images to choose from. Both Kristy and Sebie have a love of water and boats so for their engagement session we started at the lighthouse in Little River and worked our way towards ‘the point’ at Cherry Grove, with a quick stop at Vereen Gardens just across the State line in to North Carolina.

I loved this couple because they were fun, laid back, definitely had their own style and because they gave me the freedom to mix it up and be creative with both the location and styling. Not only that Kristy didn’t get too mad at me for ruining a pair of her shoes as we trudged through the marsh to get shots by the water (thanks for that!).

They also both loved vibrant and saturated colors so this entire session does not have one Black and White photo, quite possibly a first for me. Enjoy.

Be sure to scroll all the way to the end to see my choice for “best pic of the day.”

My favorite pic of the day used the abstract patterns in the shadows on the Lighthouse wall to make sure both her smile and that precious ring were both glowing in the suns natural light.

I hope you enjoyed these nautical themed engagement photos, to book your session at the location of your choice call or contact us via email.

Favorite photo of the day